January 30, 2012

2nd Judge Slaps Down Fed Motions on Protestor

A federal judge in Denver has slapped down 10 motions made by federal prosecutors against a peaceful abortion protester in a case that observers say has far-reaching ramifications for those engaging in demonstrations of just about any type. The Obama administration had assigned five federal prosecutors to go after Ken Scott, a pro-life advocate who passes out flyers and other information outside of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Denver. Read more...

Pro-Lifers Protest University of Scranton Speaker

Another showdown between a local Catholic institution and the Bishop of Scranton erupted, with conservative Catholic groups entering the debate on the side of Bishop Joseph Bambera. The Cardinal Newman Society, a group that scrutinizes Catholic colleges for adherence to doctrine, and the locally based American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property, joined forces to protest former U.S. Rep. Marjorie Margolies at the University of Scranton, an institution sponsored by the Society of Jesus. Read more...

Contraception Rule Draws Fire from Catholics

Catholic-based institutions say they will face tough decisions if they must start covering contraception and other reproductive services in their health care insurance to employees. "N.H. Catholic Charities would be forced to provide coverage for sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraception or choose to not provide health care coverage to employees, or tragically stop serving non-Catholics who make up a high percentage of the needy we serve," said Nick Boudreau, spokesman for New Hampshire Catholic Charities. Read more...

Pro-Lifers Gather in Oak Brook to Renew Efforts

More than 400 people who oppose abortions listened to the story of a former Planned Parenthood employee turned anti-abortion activist at the annual Speak Out Illinois conference at an Oak Brook hotel. The event, organized around the theme "Reclaim America for Life," brought together members of more than 35 anti-abortion groups to work toward renewing and continuing efforts to end abortions. Read more...

January 27, 2012

Judge Denies Effort to Block Colorado Pro-Lifer

A judge has denied the federal government's request to keep a longtime anti-abortion protester from being able to stop cars and talk to drivers as they enter Denver's Planned Parenthood center. U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer rejected the Justice Department's argument that Kenneth Scott's actions make it "unreasonably difficult" for patients and employees to get to the clinic. Read more...

Kentucky Panel Passes Pro-Life Bills

A state Senate committee has approved pro-life bills on abortion and ultrasound that would help reduce abortions in the state. They are expected to be approved in the Senate but the state House defeated similar bills last year. Senate Bill 102 would require women seeking abortions to get "face-to-face" counseling 24 hours in advance of the procedure. Current law allows such information to be provided by telephone. Senate Bill 103 would require physicians to perform an ultrasound before an abortion and attempt to show the image of the fetus to the pregnant woman although she could refuse to look at it. The bill would impose a fine of as much as $250,000 on a medical provider who violates the requirement. Read more...

Alveda King: Defund Planned Parenthood

Alveda King, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece, told The Daily Caller that Planned Parenthood should not receive any taxpayer funds and that her uncle opposed abortion. She encouraged President Barack Obama to watch films like "Blood Money" that show the high levels of genocide caused by abortion. "It's very clear that even if none of the three-plus million that goes to Planned Parenthood from the tax dollars every year [directly funds abortions], it enables them to use other dollars because they're being enabled by that tax grant so I do not believe that Planned Parenthood shouldn't receive any money from the taxpayers of America," she said. Read more...

Ultrasound Bill Stirs Virginia Abortion Debate

A Senate committee that was overhauled after last year's elections endorsed legislation Thursday that would require pregnant women to undergo ultrasound imaging before having an abortion, a breakthrough for abortion opponents who have advocated for the requirement. On a party-line vote of 8-7, the Republican-controlled Senate Education and Health Committee advanced the legislation to the full Senate. A similar bill is pending in the House of Delegates. Read more...

Planned Parenthood Purchases New $35M HQ

The nation's biggest abortion business has purchased part of a building in New York City that will become its national headquarters. New city records reveal Planned Parenthood purchased a commercial condo unit at 424 West 33rd Street for $34.8 million. Planned Parenthood originally signed a 20-year lease for 104,000 square feet of the 200,000-square-foot former industrial building that was converted into an office and condo building in 2002. The building had rented at about $35 per square foot until the abortion business purchased the commercial condo from Vectra Management Group, a real estate firm that had owned the building since 2000. Read more...

January 26, 2012

Graphic Pro-Life Ads Set for Super Bowl?

Racy ads are nothing new for Super Bowl fans, but those tuning into the game this year may need to prepare themselves and their families for a graphic anti-abortion ad sponsored by a presidential candidate. Pro-life candidate Randall Terry is a life-long Republican who has placed himself on the Democratic ticket against President Barack Obama to ensure he could run the ads. Terry said the images are horrific and will upset people, and these images should show people that abortion shouldn’t be legal. Read more...

Pro-Lifers March on Roe v Wade Anniversary

Neither cold temperatures nor pouring rain seemed to dampen the spirits of the tens of thousands who gathered for the annual March for Life in Washington. The march serves as an annual pro-life response to the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court's landmark decision legalizing abortion in the U.S. A number of lawmakers spoke at the rally launching the march, which began on the National Mall and proceeded several blocks to the steps of the Supreme Court. House Speaker John Boehner, an Ohio Republican, vowed to continue standing with pro-life advocates. Read more...

Illinois Abortion Rates at 37-Year Low

The number of abortions in Illinois continues to drop. The Illinois Department of Public Health reports between 2009 and 2010, abortion rates decreased by nine percent. Tom Schafer is with the agency and said he doesn't know why there are fewer procedures being done. He said his organization is in charge of collecting the numbers and not interpreting them. "You will see these numbers spun in all sorts of different direction. Everybody has their own opinion on this issue. It's very controversial," Schafer said. Read more...

Study Claiming Abortion Safer Than Birth Flawed

Hundreds of news articles appeared this week claiming, once again, that the best medical evidence shows that abortion is safer than childbirth. The rash of articles were all tied to a blatant piece of propaganda published in Obstetrics and Gynecologyby Dr. David Grimes, an abortion provider and chief propagandist for “medical proof” of abortion’s safety. The new study repeats the same discredited practice of simply comparing nationally reported maternal mortality rates with Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported deaths associated with abortion. Sounds reasonable, until you learn that there is no accurate or formal mechanism for reporting abortion-related deaths. Read more...

Pro-Death Advocates Decry Kansas Proposal

Abortion rights advocates say an anti-abortion proposal pending in the Kansas House would limit women's access to birth control. But a key supporter of the measure says those worries are exaggerated. Rep. Steve Brunk, a Bel Aire Republican, says it only ensures that medical professionals who oppose abortion can't be demoted or fired for refusing to participate in terminating pregnancies, including with medication. The "conscience protection" bill has been introduced and expands a law preventing medical personnel from being forced to participate in abortions. Read more...

Poll: 51% of Canadians Support Abortion

A new poll that highlights the complexity of Canadians’ views on abortion finds only 51% of Canadians favour any limitations at all on the procedure – even as 60% favour a law restricting gender-based abortion. The Angus Reid Opinion Poll of 1,001 online participants across the country was released Thursday. In particular, when female respondents were asked if they favoured any abortion restrictions, 53% said yes. Then asked if there should be laws governing whether women could abort a fetus based “solely on the gender,” 66% of women agreed. Read more...

Florida Committee Okays 3 Pro-Life Bills

In an emotionally charged two-and-a-half-hour debate, Republican lawmakers signed off on a trio of abortion bills that backers say would stop the "killing" of children and opponents counter would drastically interfere with a woman's access to good health care. "We need to protect these unborn children from harm," said Rep. Mike Horner, R-Kissimmee, of the three bills that would make it more difficult for women to go through with an abortion. Read more...